Gas retort



H. WOOD GAS RETORT Filed March 25.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jul 1 1924.

H. WOOD GAS RETORT Filed March 25 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .lulyl, i924.

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HERBERT WOOD, F SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

GAS RETORT.

Application filed March 25, 1921. Serial K0. 455,439.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT Noon, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Sydney, in the State of New South Wales,Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in and Relating to Gas Retorts, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has reference to retorts for the manufacture of gasesfrom all classes of coal, and has been devised with the objects ofproviding an improved form of vertical retort whereby the heating of theretort and cleaning of the surrounding chambers are facilitated and ofproviding means for effectively removing the clinker permitting theregular passage of the material through the retort.

According to the invention, the retort is constructed of brickwork andis rectangular in cross section and narrows towards the top, its lowerend being suitably supported above the generator. Surrounding the retortis an outer rectangular wall between which and the retort are a seriesof superimposed chambers open to each other at opposite sidesalternately, through which pass heated gases from the generator for thepurpose of externally heating the retort.

In each chamber openings are provided which may be closed by suitable.gas-tight doors for the removal of dust carried forward by the gasesfrom the generator. Gas and air inlets are provided whereby thetemperaturev in each chamber may be raised or varied independently ofthe others.

A passage formed by a midfeather wall leads from the generating area tothe lowermost of said chambers and the heating gases therefrom passthereto and thence upwardly from one chamber to the other from alternateends and thence to the atmosphere. I may have a damper to close saidpassage after preliminary heating and continue the heating of the retortby suitable gas burners.

A gas outlet closable by a-valve is provided below the dampers for theexit of the blow gases from the generator when heating the retort by gasburners.

50 The coal is fed continuously through the retort from a suitablegas-tight coal feeding hopper.

.assures the maximum heating eflfect.

Instead of the usual furnace bars, I pro vide below the generator aseries of rollers provided with extractor arms on the peripheriesthereof those of adjoining rollers intermeshing. Rotation of theserollers is efi'ected by suitable gearing positioned ex ternal thefurnace, and the arms of adjoining parallel rollers engage with theclinker above and force itbetween them to the gastight ashpit below.This extraction of clinker may proceed intermittently or continuouslyaccording to the feed of coal into the top of the retort.

Below the rollers, air and steam inlets are provided. 1

The plant is principally designed for the purpose of converting thesteam passed through the coke brought down through the retort, intowater gas and passing said gas through. the retort to assist in thedistillation of the coal in the retort. The heating chambers are sodesigned that the temperature of the retort may be raised or lowered sothat any suitable tar or tar oil maybe recov ered. For example, a tarsuitable forroad spraying may be desired in which case the temperaturein the upper portion of the re tort would then be increased. If tar oilsonly are required, the temperature at the upper portion of the retortwould be lowered and the temperature increased at the base of theretort.

The retort being of rectangular cross section and surrounded by heatingchambers,

All kinds of coal may be carbonized in this plant owing to the ashextractor being designed to remove the clinker to allow for a gradualdescent of coal through the retort. It is well known with continuousvertical retorts thatv should the descent of the coal be interrupted forany length of time, it is impossible to again put the retort to workuntil the retort is emptied and refilled with coke.

But in order that my invention may be more readily comprehended I willnow refer to the drawings herewith, in which- Figure 1 is an elevationof a complete retort, and

Figure 2, a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale.

' Figure 3 is a sectional plan on the line A a Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a part sectional elevation illustrating the heating andregulating chambers.

Figure 5 is a part end elevation of the clinker extracting rolls, whileFigure 6 is a horizontal section of view of a portion of the retort,showing the clinker extracting rolls in plan.

Figure 7 is a detail end elevation of the extracting rolls.

The same numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

9 represents the brickwork casing of the Vertical retort 10 which taperstowards the topand is supported on a brick base 11 above the generator12. The generator chamber has a midfeather wall 1 1 which forms'apassage '15 between the walls of the generator and the outer walls ofthe retort, said passage being provided with suitable dampers 16 for thepurpose'of controlling the passage of heating gases therethrough. Thewhole of the brickwork casing is lagged at 17 17 on each of its foursides and on the top. The outer wall of the heating chambers 19 areprovided with closable openings 20 adapted for inspection, heatregulating and dust removing purposes.

The superimposed chambers 19 form a continuous zig-zag passage for theheating gases, the waste gases passing out through the. stack valve 19"to the atmosphere.

The coal bunker 21 supported above the plant is provided with a suitableelevator and feedscoal to the hopper 22 through the gas-tight valve 23regulated by the handle 24. The retort mouthpiece 25 is provided with agas off-take pipe 26 to convey gas through a regulating valve 27 to thehydraulic main 28 while the dip pipe 29 forms a liquor seal regulated bythe tar remover 30 connected to the tar main 31. The gas from thehydraulic main passes through the pipe 32 to the retort house governors.

The removal of clinker is effected by a series of rolls or discs mountedon shafts. 11 adapted to be driven by suitable gearing as 42 and may becontinuously rotated by a belt or other drive or intermittently by ahandwheel 18 and thus provide for the regular descent of coal throughthe retort. The shafts 41 may be hollow and water circulatedtherethrough for cooling said shafts. The rolls or discs 40 have ontheir peripheries the arms or projections 43 and are revolved oppositelyso that they intermesh as shown in Figures 6 and 7. In order that any ofthe rolls may be removed for renewal, I provide bearings at 4:4; and 15so that they and their shafts may be readily withdrawn being normallyheld in position by bolted plates 46. I

The clinker is forced between the projections 43 of adjoining rolls andfalls into the ashpit 17 from which it is discharged periodicallythrough a gas-tight door 4L8.

Superheated steam may be supplied through the perforated pipe or nozzle19 when it is desired to manufacture water gas or assist in thedistillation of the coal, and air is supplied through the pipe atinter-' vals to raise the temperature of the coke to incandescence.

Access to the generator is obtained by the door 51, and gas and airinlets 52, 53, respectively, are provided when it is desired to fire theretort with gas.

When the dampers 16 are closed, the blow gases from the generator passthrough valve 54 to a suitable waste heat boiler and thence to theatmosphere.

The operation of the plant is as follows A coke fire is started in thegenerator with the inspection door 51 partially open for combustion, andthe stack valve full open for the passage of the heating gases to theatmosphere. When the retort is suflieiently heated the inspection dooris closed and the producer and retort filled with coke, the ashextractor being revolved at intervals. When the coke in the retort movesdownward, coal is fed into the retort from the coal feeding hopper 22whereupon gas making commences.

Air is blown in at intervals through pipe 50 under the ash extractor forthe purpose of raising the coke in the producer to incandescence, theblow gases passing upwards through the superimposed chambers 19 to heatup the retort and subsequently pass through the stack valve to theatmosphere. When the required temperature is obtained the stack valveand air valve are closed. Superheated steam is then supplied through therose 49 for the manufacture of water gas, the hot water gas passingupwards through the retort and assisting to carbonize the coal. Thewater gas mixes with the coal gas and passes through the regulatingvalve 27 to the hydraulic main, thence through the pipe 32 to the retorthouse governors.

During the period the water gas is passing through the retort, theregulating valve is opened to pass the extra volume of gas. The coal gasis manufactured continuously and water gas intermittently. The liquidproducts are taken away through the tar pipe 31 to the tar well.

hen it is desired to heat the retort by gas burners, the stack valve isleft full open and the dampers 16 are closed. During the blow theheating gases pass through the valve 53 to a waste heat boiler (notshown) thence to the atmosphere. When water gas is being manufactured,the air valves are closed and the water gas passes upwards through theretort in the usual way.

The temperatures in the retort are under control and may be increased ordecreased at any portion of the retort.

Having now fully described and ascertained my said invention and themanner in which it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is Avertical retort, an outer wall between which outer Wall and the retortare a series of superimposed heating chambers open to each other atopposite sides alternately, the lowermost of said chambers being incommunication with the generator, a passage my hand. 7

HERBERT WOOD.

